Sen. Cory Booker returns home to begin his 2020 run for the White House

NEWARK, N.J. (KYW Newsradio) — New Jersey U.S. Sen. Cory Booker is now an announced Democratic candidate for president, joining a half-dozen others already running next year. Booker met with reporters outside his Newark home.

Booker’s street was adorned with Cory 2020 signs. He never mentioned President Donald Trump by name, but bemoaned how the current political climate under Trump is affecting many Americans.

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“People in America are losing faith that this nation will work for them,” he said. “They’re beginning to believe that too many folks are going to get left out or left behind. They’re beginning to believe that the forces that are tearing us apart are stronger than the forces that bond us together as a people, as a country.”

Booker vowed to take a positive approach to his campaign, insisting it’s just what the country needs at this critical time.

“Patriotism is love of country and you can’t love your country unless you love your fellow countrymen and women,” Booker added. “It doesn’t mean we’re always going to agree or some days always like each other. But we’ve got to extend each other grace, less judgment and more hard work to find common ground to do the things that other people on the planet earth don’t think we can do.”

When asked if he thought Trump was a racist, the senator admitted the president uses what Booker called “bigoted language” that many white supremacists repeat. Booker promised to maintain a mostly positive campaign tone.

On issues, he says he won’t try to replace private health insurance with so called “Medicare for all,” but he will try to reform tax laws to treat the poor and middle class fairly. And he promised a “robust campaign” on behalf of public school teachers.

Of course, Chris Christie went down this road as a Republican three years ago, and saw his popularity crash with his campaign as he was away from the job a lot of the time. Booker vowed to be able to run and do his job.

Booker joins a half-dozen announced Democrats in the race. Three others have formed exploratory committees and several others, including former Vice President Joe Biden, have yet to decide if they’re in